Page 13 - Seniors Today - August 21 Issue

Cover Story

The

Other

Bharat

All it took was moving from one city to another, to experience another,
uneasy India, writes Akanksha Pandey

Moving to Delhi in 2015 felt like a much- learning how to respond to the feeling of
needed shift. Having lived in Bombay being watched. Being watched on the road
all my life, I wanted to experience things if I wear a sleeveless top, being watched
beyond my comfort zone. I knew my because I’m in a relatively empty metro
idea of “Bharat” was lopsided. I knew the while coming back from work post 9 pm. I
sanitised South-Bombay version of Bharat. can’t always tell who is watching me. But
And after 21 years of having lived in that there is a sense of being watched, a sense of
lovely sanctuary, I felt I wanted to know lingering fear whenever it’s slightly late, I
more. Somehow, the little version of Bharat have to book an Uber and I share my ride
I knew started feeling too manufactured. details with at least two other people so
Almost unreal. they can track me. You know, just in case.
So, Delhi it was. This was a different
Bharat. Specially, north campus. A lot
more noisy, a lot more colourful, a lot more
wholesome in many ways. Exciting at first.
Securing admission in DU, looking for
hostels and PGs, learning to navigate the
metro, all seems like a blur. Those bits were
easy.
What was difficult (and admittedly,
after six years of being here, it still is) is

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #26 | AUGUST 2021 13